Auckland's population

Auckland's population is growing and changing, both from natural increase and immigration. Proportions of younger to older are also changing, and our planning and services need to respond to all these changes.

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More than one third of New Zealand's population lives in Auckland.

This proportion is predicted to increase to 39 per cent by 2043, when the population could reach 2.4 million.

In 2013 almost a quarter (23 per cent) of Auckland residents identified with an Asian ethnicity, and Auckland was home to two thirds (65 per cent) of all Asian peoples in New Zealand. The broad Asian ethnic group is projected to increase significantly in Auckland, from both immigration and natural increase.

Pacific people will continue to play a significant role in Auckland's growth and change.

Stats NZ ethnic population projections (medium series) suggest that the number of Pacific people could increase from 15 per cent of Auckland's population in 2013 to 17 per cent by 2038.

Today's Pacific population is mostly New Zealand-born, predominantly young, and highly urbanised.

For the first time, between 2006 and 2013, growth of the Pacific population in New Zealand and, by implication, in Auckland, was through natural increase rather than migration from the Pacific.

Increased numbers and proportion of older residents

The number of
older Aucklanders (those aged 65 and over) is expected to more than double in the two decades from 2013, reaching a total of 353,600 people by 2033.

Such rapid growth is not predicted in any other age group, and will have direct impacts on our health, support, and transport services.

Furthermore, older Aucklanders will make up a greater proportion of the population. This is unprecedented in New Zealand, but is consistent with international trends.

Children and young people

At the time of the 2013 Census, a third of all children and young people in New Zealand lived in Auckland. In turn, children and young people made up over a third of the Auckland population.

The combined demographic forces of population growth and structural ageing means that while there will be more children and young people living in Auckland in the next few decades, the proportion of Aucklanders who are children and young people will decrease.

Rate of population growth slowing

Across all population projections, Auckland's rate of growth is anticipated to slow slightly from that experienced in recent years. Even so, this growth creates challenges for Auckland which are explored further in the challenges section.